For Jaeleen Davis, 18, a Broadway Bounds Youth Performer from Bay City, it's to the State Theatre, of course, to yodel and sing her heart out as part of Gene Anderson's sixth annual Vaudeville Show.

The show takes place at 2 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, at the historic State Theatre, 913 Washington Ave. in downtown Bay City.

Tickets are $17 and $22 for adults and $12 for students.

“I'm very excited,” said Davis, a student at Saginaw Valley State University. “It's one of the biggest shows since being on Broadway. I feel very rewarded and very honored to be chosen by Gene.”

The routines she plans to perform are thanks to Julie Andrews and the “Sound of Music.”

It was while watching Andrews perform “The Lonely Goatherd,” that Davis fell in love with the puppet idea. But it wasn't until she saw a contestant at the Miss America pageant pull out puppets that she decided to add them to her repertoire.

She uses her stage friends to perform a version of “The Girl in 14G,” a song about a young woman who moves into an apartment with an opera singer in 13G and a would-be rock-and-roller in 15G. Davis thought it was the perfect song for puppets.

“It involves three different characters,” she said. “Me and the two puppets. I made it up to go with that song.”

Anderson, a well-known local magician from Midland, calls Davis' act, “A slam dunk for the vaudeville show, it's so funny.”

Aside from her puppet act, Davis also plans to join harmonica player Mike Runyan in a rendition of “Moon River.” And she'll also be doing a bit of yodeling.

“I've been singing since I was 4,” Davis said. “I wanted to press the boundaries. It's another way to do something else with my voice. I watched a couple videos on YouTube and pulled it off.”

Davis is one of a cast of zany characters Anderson has assembled for his show.

“We have a proven formula,” said Anderson. “We have a following. But what I am doing is bringing in all new people who no one has seen, I hope.”

For example, Runyan is no slouch with the harmonica, soloing with symphony orchestras in the past. His wife Pam will accompany on piano.

“Up front he will hit it strong with 'Galloping Comedians,'” said Anderson. “He blasts it out of the tube. People say, 'Whoa, this guy's got chops.' He does “Bugler's Holiday” with six harmonicas. He's funny, too.”

Comedy is on the bill as well with David Merry from Toronto.

“He's my loose cannon,” laughs Anderson. “He is basically a comedy prop guy. He's performed over 7,000 shows in 12 time zones and works on three cruise lines. He gets in the moment and he's so funny.”

Funny enough to be named Club Comic of Year in Canada.

View full sizeArdan James performs as part of The Vaudeville Show at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at the State Theatre in downtown Bay City.Courtesy Photo

What's a vaudeville show without a mime? Ardan James steps into that roll. But, says Anderson, he isn't the typical mime.

Anderson, who serves as the emcee for the shows, won't be sitting idly by watching others perform. In between acts, he'll be doing his own thing.

“I'm not doing anything new,” he said. “It's my job to make this whole thing work, then I do spots in between. I'm going to do my preacher routine, a sermon parody on Old Mother Hubbard. It's been many years since I've done that. I will also do my signature piece.”